STAND. COM. REP. NO. 318

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1155

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 1155 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the issuance of licenses to persons of a secular or non-religious organization to solemnize marriages.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and four individuals.

Your Committee finds that this measure allows non-religiously affiliated persons to officiate marriage and civil union ceremonies. Your Committee also finds that this measure acknowledges the diversity of perspectives in the State without diminishing the customs and rights of other traditions. Finally, your Committee finds that the term "civil celebrant", which means "person of a secular or non-religious organization who performs marriage ceremonies" is circularly defined in this measure.

Therefore, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the definition of "civil celebrant" to mean "a person of a secular or non-religious organization who has received the consent of the parties to be married"; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1155, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1155, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

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JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair